http://www.icddrb.

org/

http://www.nib.gov.bd/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_industry_in_Bangladesh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotechnology_and_genetic_engineering_in_Bangladesh

http://www.pharmamirror.com/knowledge-base/company-profile/novartis-limited-dhaka/
http://www.pharmamirror.com/knowledge-base/company-profile/novo-nordisk-pvt-ltd-bangladesh/

Pharmaceutical Industry of Bangladesh The pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh is one of the most developed hi-tech
sectors within the country's economy. In 2000, there were 210 licensed allopathic drug-manufacturing units in the country,
out of which only 173 were in active production; others were either closed down on their own or suspended by the licensing
authority for drugs due to non-compliance to good manufacturing practices or drug laws. Now about 300 pharmaceutical
companies are operating at the moment. The industry manufactured about 5,600 brands of medicines in different dosage
forms. There were, however, 1,495 wholesale drug license holders and about 37,700 retail drug license holders in Bangladesh.
After the promulgation of Drug Control Ordinance - 1982, the development of this sector was accelerated. The professional
knowledge, thoughts and innovative ideas of the pharmaceutical professionals working in this sector are the key factors for
this development. Due to recent development of this sector, the industry is exporting medicines to global markets, including
the European market. This sector is also providing 97% of the total medicine requirement of the local market. Some of the
companies produce insulin, hormones, and anticancer drugs, which were not previously produced in Bangladesh. Leading
pharmaceutical companies are expanding their business with the aim to expand into the export market. Recently, a few new
industries have been established with high tech equipment and professionals to enhance the strength of this sector. History
The pharmaceutical sector is one of the thrust sectors in Bangladesh. Before Liberation, there was hardly any pharmaceutical
enterprise in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). After several years of liberation, the government could not increase (in relative
terms) budgetary allocations for the improvement of health sector. At that time, most of the people had little access to the
essential lifesaving medicines. This sector started to improve from 1980s. The pharmaceutical industry has grown in the last
two decades at a considerable rate. ______________________________________________Pharmaceutical Sector of
Bangladesh 12 | Page Right after liberation war three fourth of the pharmaceutical industries was dominated by multinational
companies. The National Drug Policy (NDP) in 1982 and 2005 has major impact in the development and growth of the
Bangladesh pharmaceutical industry. The need for NDP was very evident. Almost all the multinational companies were
producing simple and non-essential drugs in Bangladesh like vitamins mixture or cough syrups. They used to import their raw
materials from abroad at high prices. There was a need for vast quantity of essential, useful and economic drugs in
Bangladesh. It was essential and important for Bangladesh to introduce a drug policy for the betterment of national health by
availing international standard medicine in lower cost to Bangladeshi people. Precisely, multinational companies were
prevented to reduce their unessential drugs production and discouraged to import raw material at high process. Key points of
National Drug Policy of 1982:  To provide administrative and legislative support for ensuring quality of essential drugs which
are relevant to the national health need.  To reduce the price of medicine by ensuring the lowest competitive price.  To
eliminate non-essential medicine from the market.  To promote production of local drug and raw materials.  To develop
proper drug monitoring and information system to prevent wasteful misuse and to ensure the proper utilization of the drugs.
 To ensure GMP and qualified pharmacist in manufacturing companies. As NDP 1982 implemented, most multinational
companies sold their business to local pharmaceutical. This fueled to the evolution of the local pharmaceutical sectors.
According to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) website, the value of the locally produced drug was 175
crore in 1981 that increased to 325 crore by 1985. Essential Drugs’ List: Under the Drug (Control) Ordinance 1982, the
Government determines Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of 117 essential drug chemical substances. This price
______________________________________________Pharmaceutical Sector of Bangladesh 13 | Page determination is only
for the local producer companies and still now the multinational organizations are determining their price by their own way.
The Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries – BAPI: BAPI, (Bangladesh Aushad Shilpa Samity in Bengali),
established in 1972 with just 33 members, has been playing a very vital role for development of this sector. Today, BAPI is a
very strong organization having as many as 144 companies as its members. Drug Regulatory Authorities in Bangladesh A
regulatory agency is a public authority or government agency responsible for exercising autonomous authority over some area
of human activity in a regulatory or supervisory capacity. An independent regulatory agency is a regulatory agency that is
independent from other branches or arms of the government. Two organizations regulate drugs and pharmacies in
Bangladesh, one governmental and one semi-government, which are:  The Directorate General of Drug Administration
(DGDA)  The Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh (PCB) The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA): DGDA is the
drug regulatory authority of Bangladesh, which is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. DGDA regulates all
activities related to import and export of raw materials, packaging materials, production, sale, pricing, licensing, registration,
etc. of all kinds of medicine including those of Ayurvedic, Unani, and Herbal and Homoeopathic systems. The Pharmacy
Council of Bangladesh (PCB): PCB was established under the Pharmacy Ordinance in 1976 to control pharmacy practice in
Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Society is affiliated with international organizations International Pharmaceutical
Federation and Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association. The National Drug Policy (2005) states that the WHO’s current
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) should be strictly followed and that manufacturing units will be regularly inspected by
the DDA. Other key features of regulation are restrictions on imported drugs; a ban on the
______________________________________________Pharmaceutical Sector of Bangladesh 14 | Page production in
Bangladesh of around 1,700 drugs which are considered non-essential or harmful; and strict price controls, affecting some 117
principal medicines. Local Market Overview The Bangladesh pharmaceutical marketplace is predominantly a branded generic
marketplace. Pharmaceutical firms in Bangladesh can either sell to the private sector pharmacies, to the government and its
public health care facilities, or to international organizations operating in Bangladesh (e.g. UNICEF). Bangladesh
pharmaceutical industry is mainly dominated by domestic manufacturers. Of the total pharmaceutical market of Bangladesh,
the local companies are enjoying a market share reaching around 97%, while the MNCs are having a poor market share. Out of
the top ten pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh, all are local pharmaceutical companies. The top two domestic
manufacturers, namely Square and Incepta Pharma are having a combined market share of more than 30% of the total
pharmaceutical market of the country. Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) was instituted in 1972,
since then BAPI playing a pivotal role in shaping up the industry. Association's member include large, medium, small, national
and foreign companies who together are responsible for manufacturing 97% of the country's pharmaceutical production. Here
are the names of the pharmaceutical companies of Bangladesh:  Square Pharmaceuticals  Incepta Pharmaceuticals 
Beximco Pharmaceuticals  Opsonin Pharma  Renata  Eskayef Bangladesh  ACI  Acme Pharmaceutical  Aristopharma
______________________________________________Pharmaceutical Sector of Bangladesh 15 | Page  Drug International
 Sanofi-Aventis Bangladesh Ltd  GlaxoSmithKline(GSK) Bangladesh Limited  Orion Pharma Ltd  Novo Nordisk 
Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited  General Pharmaceuticals Ltd  Sandoz (generic pharmaceuticals division of Novartis) 
Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (PPL)  Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited  IBN SINA Pharmaceutical Industry Ltd. (IPI)  Nuvista
Pharma Limited  UniMed UniHealth Pharma Ltd  Sun Pharmaceutical (Bangladesh) Ltd  Globe Pharmaceuticals Ltd 
BIOPHARMA Ltd  Roche Bangladesh Ltd  Radiant Pharmaceuticals Ltd  Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd  Jayson
Pharmaceuticals Ltd  BEACON Pharmaceutical Limited  Social Marketing Company (SMC)  Orion Infusion Ltd  Kemiko
Pharmaceuticals Ltd  NAVANA Pharmaceuticals Ltd  Delta Pharma Ltd  Servier Bangladesh  SOMATEC Pharmaceuticals
Ltd  Rangs Pharmaceuticals Ltd  Libra Pharmaceuticals Ltd  ALCO Pharma Ltd
______________________________________________Pharmaceutical Sector of Bangladesh 16 | Page  Apex Pharma Ltd 
Pharmadesh Laboratories Ltd  Silva Pharmaceuticals Ltd  Medimpex Bangladesh  Edruc Limited  Ziska Pharmaceuticals
Ltd  White Horse Pharmaceuticals  RAK Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd  Asiatic Laboratories Ltd